System of fluid fuel supply for multiple burners operation



Jan. 30, 1945. A, F. SCHUMANN ETAL SYSTEM OF FLUID FUEL SUPPLY FOR MULTIPLE BURNERS OPERATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed De 21, 1940 ALFREo f. Sam/MANN AND ALEXANOER d. Tunpnv A TTORNEY 1945- A. F. SCHUMANN ET AL 3,

SYSTEM OF FLUID FUEL SUPPLY FOR MULTIPLE BURNERS OPERATION Filed Dec. 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 AL FRED ITJCM/MAA/A/ AIVD AL EXA NOE/Q 1/. TuRPnv I f, I 4 I".

14 TTORNE Y Patented Jan. 30, 1945 SYSTEM OF FLUID FUEL SUPPLY FOR MULTIPLE BURNERS OPERATION Alfred F. Schumann, Baltimore, Md., and Alexander. J. Turpin, Stewart Manor, N. Y., assignors to Hauck Manufacturing Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 21, 1940, Serial No. 371,144

Claims. (01. 158-363) The invention relates to the operation of industrial burner installations embodying generally a plurality of burners in one or more groups and utilizing a liquid fuel such as heavy oil. In order to reduce the fire hazard and to eliminate wide temperature fluctuations, the fuel utilized with these burners is generally stored in suitable tanks located under ground and atv a point more or less remote from the actual burners. A suction pump, which is located above ground, withdraws th fuel from the tank as required and under a substantial vacuum in view of the considerable lift necessitated by thus buryingthe tank. Heating of the oil in the tank to any substantial degree, say above 150 F'., is therefore not practicable since above this temperature vapor would be produced to an extent to interfere with the vacuum so that the pump would not deliver the requisite volume of fuel. Moreover, when this heavy oil is to be delivered at an appreciable distance from the place of storage with an initial temperature of only 150 F., considerable loss in temperature and variation inpressure is experienced by the time it reaches the burner means, and constant satisfactory combustion cannot be had unless the oil temperature is maintained substantially constant at the burners.

The present invention has for an object to provide a novel method of operation and to an installation wherein these objections, are overcome so that effective oil temperatures and pressure are maintained at the burners.

A further object of the invention is to maintain substantially constant the pressure on the fuel as delivered to a burner or burners.

Another object of the invention is to maintain substantially constant the temperature of the oil at the valve-metering opening for a burner.

Still another object of the invention is to make it possible to use fuel supplied to a burner at relatively low pressures and to provide controlling openings in the fuel-supply valve for the burner which are of a size sufficient to pass the usual amount of dirt and other foreign, matter present 'in heavy-grade oils and render the system thus if only the oil consumed by the burner were controlled.

The invention has for another object to provide a system operable under comparatively low fuel pressures.

In carrying out the invention, the various burner units which may be arranged in one or more batteries of units are all connected to one common source of fuel supply. This may be contained in a tank or other suitable receptacle buried generally under ground and located more or less remotely with respect to the burner units. The fuel is pumped from the storage tank and delivered to a fuel supply line at a temperature of approximately F., suitable provision being made for preliminarily heating the fuel in its tank. A substantial pressure is maintained in the sup ly line by the said pump approximately to the batteries of burners where a reducing valve or the like lowers the supply pressure. Beyond such reducing valve or the like auxiliary pumping means are installed to advance the fuel to the burners, said fuel first being passed through. additional heater means to heat the fuel and toolevate its temperature to the requisite degree, for example, 250 F.,, or to a temperatureat which the viscosity of the oil is not materially altered by slight temperature variations.

Connections are then made to the respective burner units for the fuel at this elevated temperature and under a moderate pressure which is maintained substantially constant by areducing valve located immediately in advance ofeach of the burners. Moreover, the supply of fuel to a burner is arranged tobe in excess of the burner requirements, being substantially double the normal requirements, and the: excess is returned to the supply line on the intake side of the auxiliary pump beyond the pressure-reducing valve which is located in advance of the same.' Respective by-pass connections are thus provided for each of the burners of a battery, the control valve for a burner being modified to admit of delivery of the excessfuel not required by a bumer therethrough into the corresponding by-pass.

The nature or the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 and 1a, Sheets 1 and 2, respectively, illustrate more or less diagramatically the novel burner installation embodying by way of example two groups of burner units.

Fig. 2 is afragmentary horizontal section through a portion-- of the control valve for a burner;

Referring to the drawings, the fuel to be utilized in the operation of the burners, and which may be a heavy oil, is contained in a suitable storage tank l or the like generally buried under ground. This fuel is to be heated as highly as is consistent with, its removal by a suction pump I connected through pipe |2 to the tank for the fuel, or rather to a heater |3 therein. The heater |3 is operated from a steam line l4 through a temperature regulator IS, the fuel being maintained at a temperature of substantially 150 F. A relief valve I6 is included in the fuel supply line I! to return any excess fuel to the heater as through the pipe connection l8, the pump I being a constant volume pump operated, for example, by a motor l9.

One or more batteries of burner units are connected to the supply line H and this connection may be made through a pressure-reducing valve which lowers its pressure somewhat below that at which'the oil is supplied to the burner units by an auxiliary pumping means as well as through an additional heater means, all located immediately in advance of a battery. Thus, as indicated in the drawings, two batteries of burners A and l B, respectively, are connected to the supply line H, the former through the branch supply line 20 and the latter through the branch supply line 2|, both connected directly to the supply line IT. The battery A comprises four burner units, A1, A2, A3, and A4, and the battery B two burner units, B1 and B2. These burners may be of any suitable design and are preferably of the proportional type, for example, of the nature set forth in U. S. Letters Patent #2,219,118 and #2,2l9,1l9 granted applicants assignee, but slightl modifled for the purpose hereinafter set forth. Thus, the intake for air from any suitable source such as a blower (not shown) is at the top ofa burner, as indicated by the arrow, Fig, 1, while the burner delivery nozzle (not shown) is at right angles thereto, for example, in the axis of oscillation of the operating handle of a burner.

As hereinbefore noted, the supply of fuel to each battery of burners is preceded by a pressurereducing valve, an auxiliary pumping means, and a heating means. For example, there is introduced in the branch line 2|] the pressure-reducing valve 25 which reduces the supply pressure to approximately pounds per square inch for the purpose hereinafter set forth, whereupon the flow is to the intake of an auxiliary pump 26 which delivers the fuel at a pressure of approximately pounds per square inch to the heater 21 where it is reheated to a temperature of substantially 250 F. under control of a temperature-regulator 28. Connections are made from the heater outlet pipe 29 to the respective burners A1, A2, A3, and A4, as through pipes 30, 3|, 32, and 33, respectively.

There is interposed in each of these connections a further pressure-reducing means and beyond each burner a return or by-pass connection. Thus, a pressure-reducing means 35 is connected immediately in advance of the burner unit A1; a-

pressure-reducing means 36 immediately in advance of the burner unit A2; a pressure-reducing means 31 immediately in advance of the burner unit A3; and a pressure-reducing means 38 immediately in advance of the burner unit A4, with by-pass connections 40, 4|, 42, and 43 from each of the respective burner units to a common return 44. This enters the branch supply pipe ata point 45 located between the pressure-reducing valve and the auxiliary pump 26 where the pressure ofthe fuel has been sufficlent y reduced, thereby establishing a continuous circulation through the battery of burners of fuel at a proper temperature for most effective combustion and at the requisite pressure.

In addition, it will be noted that there is thus supplied to each burner of a battery fuel considerably in excess of its normal requirement which enables a much more satisfactory regulation to be the end of the supply line 29 for return of any surplus fuel into the said return 44; and beyond the entrance of said return 44 at the point 45 an in advance of a shut-off valve 41 a further return connection is made through a relief valve 48 so that if pressure should build up in the said return line, it would be properly relieved.

As hereinbefore set forth, the valve for controlling the flow of fluid through the burner orifice may be of the nature set forth in the aforesaid Letters Patent #2,219,119. Reference being had to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the valve-burner unit comprises a casing 50 in which is provided a valve seat 5| having therein a triangular port 52 over which is designed to be moved a cam-shaped valve piece 53 to control the area of port opening. Fuel is delivered into the interior 54 of the valve body of casing 50 as through an inlet 55 for communication with a corresponding one of the connections 30, 3|, 32, and 33; while an outlet 56 is also made in this instance to allow of the bypassing of the fuel and is adapted for communication with a corresponding one of the connec tions 40, 4|, 42, and 43. The fuel for the burner use passes through the hollow spindle 51 of the burner under control of the said valve piece 53.

In a similar manner, the other branch pipe 2| for the battery B of burners includes a pressurereducing valve 60, auxiliary pumping means 6|, and a heater 52, and from the latter extends the outlet or supply pipe 63. Pipes 64 and 65 connect this supply pipe to the respective burners B1 and B2 of the group through corresponding pressure-reducing valves 66 and 61, respectively,-

while by-pass connections 68 and 69, respectively, connect the said burners to a common return 10 entering the branch pipe 2| at the point ll intermediate the pressure-reducing means and auxiliary pumping means 6| where the fuel pressure has been sufliciently reduced. Pressure relief connections are made to the return 10 and to the supply pipe 2|, respectively through relief valves 12 and 13 'as in the case of the battery A.

Of course, under conditions wherein the main supply line pressure is not reduced, as by omitting a reducing valve 25 or 60, it will be necessary for an auxiliary pump 2-6 or 6| to step up the pressure of the fuel, as supplied to a burner, either through or with the elimination of the associated pressure-reducing valve, to a degree such that the fuel in the return line therefrom will exceed the main supply line pressure.

We claim: 1. A liquid fuel burner installation, comprising a battery of independent low-pressure burner units of variable inlet orifice, means to vary individually the orifices. of the respective units to regulate the discharge therefrom, a source of liquid fuel common to all of the burner units, a fuel supply line between the source and the battery, together with connections from said line to the respective burner units, pumping means in the fuel supply line to supply fuel from the fuel source to the battery of burners, pressure-reducing means included in the supply line immediately in advance of the battery of burner units, auxiliary pumping means beyond said pressure-reducing means for advancing fuel in excess of the respective burner requirements through the burner units, together with means for reducing the pressure of the circulated fluid in advance of said individual burner units to a degree suited for the burner operation and slightly above the intake pressure of the said auxiliary pumping means, and respective continuously open by-pass connections from each of the burner units of a battery for the excess fuel to a point of the said fuel supply line on the intake side of the auxiliary pumping means between said auxiliary pumping means and the first-named pressure-reducing means. I

2. A liquid fuel burner installation, comprising a battery of independent low-pressur burner units of variable inlet orifice, means to vary individually the orifices of the respective units to regulate the discharge therefrom, a source of liquid fuel :common to all of the burner units, a fuel supply line between the source and the battery, together with connections from said line to the respective burner units, pumping means in the fuel supply line to supply fuel from the fuel source to the battery of burners, pressure-reducing means included in the suppl line immediately in advance of the battery of burner units, auxiliary pumping means beyond said pressure-reducing means for advancing fuel in excess of the respective burner requirements through the burner units, respective continuously open by-pass connections from each of the burner units of a battery for the excess fuel to a point of the said fuel supply line on the intake side of the auxiliary pumping means between said auxiliary pumping means and said pressure-reducing means, and a plurality of additional pressure-reducing means for the respective burner units and included immediately in advance of the corresponding burners in the respective supply connections thereto for I reducing the pressure of the circulated fluid to a degree suited for the burner operation and slightly,

above the intake pressure of the said auxiliary pumping means.

3. A liquid fuel burner installation, comprising a battery of independent low-pressure burner units of variable inlet orifice, means to var individually the orifices of the respective units to regulate the discharge therefrom, a source of liquid fuel common to all of the burner units, 'a fuel supply line between the source and the battery, together with connections from said line to the respective burner units, pumping means in the fuel supply line to supply fuel from the fuel source to. the battery of burners at a substantial pressure, pressure-reducing means included in the supply line immediately in advance of the battery of burner units to reducethe pressure of the fuel substantially below that in the fuel supply line, auxiliary pumping means beyond said pressurereducing means for advancing at an intermediate pressure fuel in excess of the respective burner requirements through the burner units, respective continuously open by-pass connections from each of the burner units of a battery for the excess fuel to a point of the said fuel supply line on the intake side of the auxiliary pumping means between said auxiliary pumping means and said pressure-reducing means and beyond the said pressure-reducing means, and a plurality of additional pressure-reducing means for the respective burner units and included immediately in advance of the corresponding [burners in the respective supply connections thereto for reducing the pressure of the circulated fluid to a degree suited for the burner operation and slightly above the intake pressure of the said auxiliary pumping means.

4. Aliquid fuel burner installation, comprising a battery of independent low-pressure burner units of variable inlet orifice, means to vary individually the orifices of the respective units to regulate the discharge therefrom, a source of liquid fuel common to all of the burner units, a fuel sup-pl line between the source and the battery, together with connections from said line to the respective burner units, pumping means in the fuel supply line, respective continuously open by-pass connections to the intake side of the pumping means from each of the burner units of the battery for the excess fuel therefrom, the said pumping means being adapted to circulate fuel from the fuel source to the battery of burners in excess of the respective burner requirements through the individual burner units, and means for reducing the pressure of the circulated fluid in advance of said individual burner units to a degree suited for the 'burner operation and slightly above the intake pressure of the said pumping means.

5. The method of operating a variable inlet orifice burner unit, of an installation comprising a battery of such units, with liquid fuel from a storage supply thereof common to all of the units,

which comprises advancing the liquid fuel substantially to the point ofuse, reducing the pressure on said liquid fuel, forcibly advancin it continuously and in excess of the capacity of a burner unit to a second pressure reduction, re ducing the pressure on said liquid fuel to a degree suited for the burner unit, but slightly above the first-named pressure reduction, prior to passing the liquid fuel through the burner unit, bypassing to the point of first-named pressur re duction excess liquid fuel from the respective burner units, and regulating the discharge of a unit by varying the area of its inlet orifice.

ALFRED F. SCHUMANN. ALEXANDER J. TURPIN. 

